Picture this: you’re three years into retirement, and your savings aren’t stretching as far as you’d hoped. The heating bills keep climbing, the weekly shop costs more each month, and those little treats you’d planned for? They’re feeling like luxuries now. Sound like a familiar concern? You’re definitely not alone. Here’s the brilliant news – if you have a retirement blog, you could actually help solve this problem whilst helping others navigate the same choppy waters.
I remember sitting at my kitchen table about two years ago, frustrated after yet another conversation with my pension provider. I’d scribbled down questions on the back of an envelope, thinking surely other people must be just as confused as I am. I’m sure we’ve all done that. That envelope could became a downloadable guide, and help others in the same boat.
Whether it’s through affiliate partnerships, your own digital products, or even a cheeky sponsored post, here are ten tried and true ways to monetise your retirement blog. And before you panic about needing to become a tech whizz, trust me, if I can figure this out, you can too. If you are knowledgeable about retirement, are the go-to person in the office, or are going through the maze yourself, then you probably have enough knowledge and experience to start your own blog around retirement.
1. Affiliate Marketing for Retirement-Focused Products
Affiliate marketing lets you earn commission by recommending products that genuinely help your community. Think retirement planning tools, financial software, or health related services that you’d actually use yourself. It’s low risk and a proper good place to start. Only ever promote things you’ve genuinely tried and would recommend to your best friend.
Choose products that solve real problems your readers face, like figuring out whether their pension pot will actually last until they’re 90, or understanding those confusing annuity letters. Create content around these genuine needs and include product links naturally, not like you’re shouting “buy this!” at every opportunity.
Start here: Make a list of five products you’ve actually bought and loved in the past year. Research their affiliate programmes and write honest reviews.
👇 Pause and Think: What’s one thing you’ve learned or created from your retirement journey that others might find helpful? That’s a great starting point for monetising your blog.
2. Sponsored Content with Financial Institutions
Partnering with trusted banks, pension advisors, or insurance companies can bring in decent money for sponsored posts. These companies often have proper marketing budgets specifically for content that reaches older adults making important financial decisions.
The key is making sure any sponsored content still puts your readers first. If a company wants you to write something that doesn’t feel right, politely decline. Your community’s trust is worth more than any payment.
Start here: Research local financial institutions and check if they have community outreach programmes. Many smaller organisations are more approachable than the big banks.
3. Create and Sell Digital Products
Have you put together a brilliant retirement checklist? Maybe a budgeting spreadsheet that actually makes sense, or a planning guide for downsizing? Package it up and sell it! Digital products are lovely because once you’ve created them, they can earn money whilst you’re having your afternoon tea.
Focus on solving specific problems your community faces regularly. Think “How to Organise Your Important Documents Before You Need Them” or “The Complete Guide to Pension Credit Applications.” Update your materials regularly to keep them current with changing regulations.
Start here: Look through your last ten blog posts and identify which one got the most comments or questions. That’s your first product idea.
4. Offer Online Courses on Retirement Prep
If you’ve mastered a retirement topic through personal experience, why not teach it? Platforms like Teachable or Thinkific make hosting online courses surprisingly straightforward. You could cover topics like “Navigating State Pension Options Without Losing Your Sanity” or “Planning a Late Life Career Change.”
Keep your content focused and speak like you’re explaining things to a friend over tea. Nobody wants to feel like they’re back in school being lectured at.
Start here: Pick one topic you could talk about for hours and outline a simple 4 lesson course. You don’t need fancy equipment – your phone camera and a quiet room will do.
5. Provide Consulting for Pre Retirees
Some people want personal advice, and if you’re confident in your experience, you could be just the person to help. Start by helping people in your network for free to build confidence and testimonials. Then gradually introduce paid packages for different needs, perhaps “First Time Retirement Planners” or “Making Your Money Last Longer.” You’re not giving financial advice (leave that to the professionals), but you’re sharing practical wisdom from someone who’s been there.
Start here: Offer three free sessions to friends or blog readers in exchange for honest feedback and testimonials.
6. Use Display Advertising (Wisely)
You can earn passive income through adverts on your site using platforms like Google AdSense or Mediavine, but here’s the thing: don’t go overboard. Too many ads make your blog feel like a car boot sale, and your readers will leg it faster than you can say “click here.”
After 18 months of consistent blogging, I applied to Mediavine and now earn around £80 to £120 per month from display ads. It’s not huge money, but it covers my hosting costs and a few nice extras. The key is building decent traffic first. Most ad networks want to see at least 10,000 monthly visitors.
Test different placements carefully and always prioritise readability. Think of adverts as a side dish, not the main course your readers came for.
Start here: Focus on growing your traffic to 5,000+ monthly visitors before worrying about ads. Quality content comes first.
7. Launch a Membership Site
Offering exclusive content for subscribers can create lovely recurring income. Think detailed guides, monthly video Q&As, downloadable planners, and direct access to you for questions. Platforms like MemberPress make managing everything surprisingly simple.
Keep your community engaged with regular updates and genuine conversations. Start with one compelling offer and grow from there rather than overwhelming yourself with too much content.
Start here: Survey your most engaged readers about what exclusive content they’d value most.
8. Sell Retirement Related Physical Products
If you’re crafty or have an eye for useful gadgets, why not set up a small online shop? From large print planners to travel friendly walking accessories, retirees are a diverse and curious bunch with specific needs.
My friend Sarah sells beautiful handmade retirement journals through her blog and makes around £300 monthly profit. She started with just five designs and grew from there. The key is understanding what your community actually needs, not just what looks pretty.
Just be ready for customer service and posting parcels. It’s more hands on than digital products. Consider starting with low inventory items or partnering with drop shipping suppliers to keep things manageable.
Start here: Ask your readers what physical products they struggle to find or wish existed.
9. Attract Podcast Sponsorships
Podcasts are booming, and retirement topics are proper hot right now. Start a weekly show building a following, and once you’ve got regular listeners, sponsors will be keen to pay for mentions.
You don’t need a professional studio, you could record in your spare bedroom with a £50 USB microphone. Talk about issues your community cares about: downsizing nightmares, pension myths, navigating later life relationships. Keep your tone warm and conversational. Think chat over the garden fence, not Radio 4.
Start here: Record three practice episodes on your phone to test your comfort level before investing in equipment.
10. Grow with Email Marketing
An email list is honestly one of the most powerful tools you can build. Start with a freebie, then send regular emails mixing helpful tips with links to your products or partners.
Keep it simple and test what your readers actually click on. If nobody’s interested in investment tips but everyone loves downsizing stories, give them more of what they want.
Start here: Create one valuable freebie and set up a simple email sequence welcoming new subscribers.
Quick Reference: Your 10 Monetisation Options
- Affiliate Marketing – Recommend products you genuinely use
- Sponsored Content – Partner with trusted financial institutions
- Digital Products – Sell guides, templates, and planners
- Online Courses – Teach what you’ve learned through experience
- Consulting – Offer personal guidance sessions
- Display Advertising – Passive income through website ads
- Membership Site – Exclusive content for paying subscribers
- Physical Products – Sell useful items your community needs
- Podcast Sponsorships – Build an audience and attract sponsors
- Email Marketing – Your most valuable long term asset
From Blog to Business: Your Retirement Monetisation Journey Starts Here
Here’s what I wish someone had told me when I started: you don’t need to become the next big thing online. You just need to help one person at a time whilst earning enough to make your own retirement a bit more comfortable.
The beautiful thing about starting this journey is that even if you only help a handful of people and earn enough for a few nice meals out, you’ve still achieved something meaningful. Your experience and wisdom have value. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.
Start with whichever method made you think “Actually, I could try that” and give it three months of consistent effort. The worst that happens? You learn something new and maybe make some lovely connections. The best? You build something that supports both your community and your bank balance.
What monetisation idea feels most doable to you right now? Have you tried any of these methods already? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below, and don’t forget to check out the rest of the blog for more practical retirement tips!